apartment Kitchen Decorating That Maximizes Your Square Footage

Decorating a small apartment kitchen can be challenging, but with some strategic design choices, you can maximize both style and function. The key is selecting materials and storage solutions that visually expand the compact space, while also streamlining tasks through savvy organization. Read on for tips that enhance tiny kitchens through light, color, textures, storage, and beyond.

Choosing Materials to Visually Expand the Space

By opting for reflective, light-enhancing surfaces and consistent flooring, you can make your modest apartment kitchen appear more spacious. Materials lend valuable style as well, adding eye-catching textures and colors to your design.

Glass Doors and Light Floors Reflect More Light

When natural light is limited, installing glass-front cabinet doors enables you to harness every bit of illumination. The transparent surface bounces around ambient light. For a similar brightening effect, consider light-hued floor materials like oak or laminate in soft neutral tones. Consistent flooring flowing into adjoining rooms also helps connect the spaces visually.

Mirrors Double the Feeling of Openness

Strategically placed mirrors give the illusion of more room by reflectingimages back outward. Hang one vertically near a window to maximize reflective scope or position horizontally above a sink or countertop to expand the surface area. Avoid situating opposite another reflective surface, however, or an awkward tunnel effect could result.

Consistent Flooring Connects Rooms

Carrying the kitchen flooring into an adjoining dining area or living room opens up the rooms visually. Transitioning between drastically different flooring materials segmentsthe space, whereas uniform floors make rooms appear more expansive.

Strategic Storage Solutions

No matter the square footage, storage always proves essential in kitchen spaces. Tailor solutions to suit your needs, whether open shelving for display or hidden storage for containment. Proper organization also minimizes clutter on the precious little countertop real estate.

Open Shelving Displays Items While Keeping Counters Uncluttered

Glass-front or wire shelving enables you to artfully exhibit favorite dishware and pantry items. This prevents the need for rummaging through closed cabinets while freeing up counterspace. Place open shelving strategically, away from the stove or sink to prevent cooking splatter and moisture damage.

Repurposed Cabinets Add Hidden Storage

Sometimes containment ranks above display for kitchen storage. Old filing cabinets or dresser drawers work beautifully when retrofittedunder counters or islands. These repurposed items house bulk dry goods or lesser-used appliances. Customizing with paint updates the look of old pieces.

Hanging Racks Free Up Floor Space

Vertical storage proves essential for small kitchens with limited floor area. Hanging racks or rails mount to walls or ceilings, providing a place for pots, pans, utensils and bulkier appliances like microwaves. Items remain easily accessible while freeing up precious real estate for food preparation and cooking.

Under-Cabinet Bins Organize Lesser-Used Items

Stacking baskets or drawer organizers readily mount beneath existing cabinets. Great for corralling smaller goods like spices, canned goods and baking items, they make locating things fast and frustration-free. Labeling the front of each bin makes identifying contents even easier.

Easy and Creative Backsplash Options

Traditional tile backsplashes prove costly, so apartment dwellers often seek creative alternatives. Removable materials transform the space without major investment, enabling you to customize with color, prints and dishware collections.

Removable Wallpaper Transforms the Look

Thanks to advances in materials, removable wallpaper now offers a modern backsplash option without professionally laying tile. The adhesive backing sticks to surfaces smoothly without damaging existing walls. When you move, simply peel it off. Abstract patterns, faux brick and geometric motifs make for stylish, affordable choices.

Dishware Collections Become Focal Points

Open shelving offers the ideal way to flaunt beloved dish sets, handmade pottery or colorful glasses. Mount floating ledges or glass-front cabinets to neatly exhibit your treasures. Place them against a painted statement wall for added drama. Collections creatively become the kitchen's focal point.

Frame a Gallery Wall for Personalization

Nothing personalizes a rental kitchen quite like framed art, prints and photos. Cluster meaningful pieces in an asymmetrical arrangement for visual interest and plenty of wow-factor. Mix different frame sizes, colors and orientations. Place near an open seating area so guestscan readily enjoy your mini art installation.

Functional Zones Streamline Tasks

given limited work areas in apartment kitchens, compartmentalizing tasks helps maintain order. Define separate spaces for food preparation, major appliance use, storage and clean-up through positioning equipment accordingly.

Food Prep, Cooking, and Clean-Up Areas

Situate cutting boards, knives and mixing bowls on the counterspace nearest the refrigerator and pantry. Place hobs, ovens and microwaves logically together in one functional cooking zone. Then keep the sink, detergent and drying racks together in a designated clean-up area.

Charging Station for Small Appliances

Counter space gets easily cluttered by small appliances until the next use. Install an accessible power strip on a side wall or at the end of a run of cabinetry to neatly store coffee makers, stand mixers and blenders while keeping them charged.

Herb Garden or Mini Greenhouse for Freshness

Limited counters make maintaining fresh herbs a challenge. Opt for compact indoor herb gardens with built-in grow lightsor mini greenhouseto cultivate basil, oregano, thyme and other staples inside. Position near a sunny window or integrate as part of open shelving to enjoy greens grown right in your kitchen.

Pops of Color and Eye-Catching Textures

Paint, flooring, metal accents and textiles easily add vibrant accents that personalize a rental kitchen. Pops of colors liven up neutrals, while mixed natural materials insert intriguing textures.

Vivid Paint Defines the Kitchen Zone

In an open concept living space, delineate the kitchen area with a bold accent wall. Vibrant hueslike crimson red or cobalt blue make excellent backdrop for an eat-in dinette set. For other defining ideas, consider painting the ceilings, window frames or cabinetry an intense shade.

Wood, Metal, and Stone Add Visual Interest

Keep things compelling by mingling natural materials like rough wood shelving, gleaming metal hardware and marble or stone countertops. The mix of colors and textures brings depth to modest spaces. Contrast cool metals with warm wood tones to heighten the dynamic interplay.

A Bold Rug Warms Up the Floor

An eye-catching floor rug anchors a sleek contemporary space or adds coziness to a cottage kitchen. Splashes of patterns or vivid colors enliven hard surface flooring affordably. Position underneath seating areas or extend under appliance zones to soften high-traffic paths.

Under-Cabinet and Task Lighting

Proper illumination makes all the difference in small, windowless kitchens. Concentrated lighting sourcesaid specific tasks, boost visibilityand help set ambiance. Position directionally to avoid casting shadowsor causing glare.

LEDs Boost Visibility and Ambience

Hardwired LED strip lighting affixes under cabinets to directly spotlight countertops where chopping, mixing and plating occur. Some systems now feature wireless remotes and voice controls. The narrow profile hugs surfaces smoothly without visually cluttering tight spaces.

Strategic Spotlights Highlight Key Areas

Freestanding lights on the counter or high-beams recessed above readily spotlight appliance zones. Illuminate the area around sinks, stoves, microwaves or coffee machines as needed. Extendable swing-arm lamps also direct light right where required.

Hanging Storage Rails Keep Tools Accessible

Wall-mounted rails or tracks allow you to creatively exhibit kitchenware near the ceiling, keeping essentials handy while maximizing space below. Rails conveniently hold pots, pans and utensils of all sizes.

Rails Display Cookware in Easy Reach

Mountain rails perpendicular over an appliance zone or food prep area to keep favored pots and pans within arm's reach. Opt for materials like stainless steel or wood rods to coordinate with existing decor. Consider an extensible rail enabling you to pull items out away from the wall.

Vertical Storage Saves Precious Space

Where floor area is tight, utilize square footage rising vertically instead. Ceiling-high narrow shelving units store bulky items like stand mixers and blenders overhead, accessible via a small ladder. You can even mount a pulley system for raising and lowering baskets.

No matter the size of your rental kitchen, smart decor solutions and savvy organization enable you to personalize the space and conduct tasks efficiently. Use light colors, mirrors and glass surfaces to impart spaciousness. Streamline through zones and specialized storage. Then have fun with paint, textures and accessories that infuse bold personality.